Overlooking the sea on the “Gulf of Surriento”, since 1834 the legendary Grand Hotel has embodied the myth of 5-star hospitality in Campania and continues to make us dream with its romantic terrace that inspired Lucio Dalla’s famous song “Caruso”.

Arriving at the terrace of the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria is always an unforgettable moment: whether you arrive from the long avenue shaded by olive, orange and lemon trees crossing the elegant Art Nouveau entrance, or from the water with the private elevator from the port of Marina Piccola, climbing the suggestive 50-meter cliff overlooking the sea.

And precisely, “There where the sea sparkles and the wind blows strong, on an old terrace in front of the Gulf of Surriento”, nestled between Vesuvius and the Gulf of Naples, Lucio Dalla composed the verses dedicated to the great tenor Caruso who used to stay at the luxurious Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria.

One of the secrets of the hospitality of the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria is our “historical” staff, part of the family and exceptional in pampering guests at any time of the day.

(Fiorentino family)

A 5-star luxury hotel, it was built on volcanic rock above an archaeological site where the villa of the Roman emperor Augustus once stood, so much so that even today, among the trees of the resort’s large 20,000 square meter park, you can admire fascinating classical ruins.

For 6 generations and just 190 years, the Grand Hotel has belonged to the Fiorentino family, an adventure that has never stopped, as they just kept continuing to grow and invest in their “home” year after year.

In 1834, Villa Vittoria was built, the first of the three main buildings that make up the resort, then the original Villa Favorita, in the style of a Swiss chalet, completed around 1875, and later, in 1882, the neoclassical Villa Rivale. Different styles united by a wonderful winter garden, a true “museum” of the Belle Époque with precious original furniture, such as the beautiful wooden and woven rope chairs designed by Ernesto Basile which are also exhibited at the Musée D’Orsay in Paris.

An enchanted place that, although continually modernized with all contemporary comforts, offers the magic of experiencing the authentic atmospheres of the “Grand Tour”, where it is easy to imagine among its rooms the great personalities who used to stay there, such as the princesses Sissi and Margaret of England or the composers Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss.

A special bond, the one with music, which led the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria to host the famous tenor Caruso for a long time in room 448. By fate, it was in this room, today the Caruso Suite, that Lucio Dalla stayed, giving birth here to one of the most beautiful songs of all time, “Caruso” precisely.

There are 81 rooms, all different from each other, with frescoed ceilings, handcrafted Vietri majolica, period furniture and marble bathrooms.

The resort’s services are completed by the swimming pool with solarium, the Boutique SPA La Serra Sorrento, and the bar-restaurants: La Terrazza Vittoria, much-loved for enjoying the sun setting over the Gulf, L’Orangerie located in the garden near the swimming pool, the Michelin-starred Terrazza Bosquet, and La Pergola Bar & Champagnerie, all also open to non-residents upon reservation.

All magnificently orchestrated by Executive Chef Antonino Montefusco who, together with his team, loves to use top-quality local ingredients, coming in particular from the Grand Hotel’s garden and from small producers in the area.

You only need to wake up to the shimmer of the sea and the legendary breakfast of the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria served in the Vittoria Ballroom to understand that we are in front of one of the great myths of world hospitality.

The Secret

Many films have been shot in the Grand Hotel, from Billy Wilder’s Avanti! to the recent series My Brilliant Friend.

Useful Info

Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria
Piazza Torquato Tasso 34
80067 Sorrento, Napoli
Tel. +39 081 8777111

Rooms: from 563 euro breakfast included